In the second round of the United Rugby Championship, viewers were treated to a clash between the Lions and the Scarlets. A fascinating clash, as the Lions looked to keep their winning record, while the Scarlets looked to bounce back.
The fixture also saw Dwayne Peel return to Llanelli. He has begun to imprint his DNA all over the Scarlets, and their attacking shape. This new style and the variations brought in by Peel will be our main focus today.
Let’s start at the beginning. The Scarlets directed their opening kick-off deep into Lions territory. The Lions return fire, escaping their 22. The Lions kick gets the Scarlets Back Three into the game early. As Jonny McNicholl catches the ball and carves his way to centrefield.
By running into the centre of the Lions defence, Scarlets split the field forcing the Lions to react rather than being in their settled kick-chase formation. The Scarlets on the openside immediately aim to attack and launch their opening salvo.
From the ruck, Scarlets immediately settle into their attacking shape. They start by forming a three-man forward pod that can be hit by Kieran Hardy. We get the first indication of Dwayne Peels style in this image. Hardy has a pod of three to hit, but they are flowing in, rather than being set. The “tip” (outside runner of the pod” is still in behind and running around, yet Hardy is freeing the ball from the ruck. An indicator of the pace Scarlets will use to beat the defence this season.
Another interesting addition to this set-up is where Fly Half, Sam Costello positions himself. Costello playing flat to the line just off the lead runner of the pod. We will examine the positioning of the Scarlets playmaker in further detail later.
On the following phase, the Scarlets continue to play the same way. Some teams are afraid to play into the 15m, using it as a reference point to reset their attack. There are some good reasons for this, primarily the risk of being driven into touch. However, Scarlets use this space to overload and stress the Lions defence.
The Scarlets attack in the 15m channel reaps immediate returns. Good hands from Sione Kalamafoni maintain the overlap. The speed of transfer allows Jonathon Davies time in the wide channel. Davies drives into the space, committing the last Lions defender, and gives Steff Evans a chance on the outside. Evans eats up the ground, however, he is aware of his surroundings, close to the touchline, and with approaching defenders.
Given the pressure, Steff Evans kicks ahead. This keeps the attack alive and allows the Scarlets to apply pressure to a scrambling Lions defence. The pressure exerted from the kick is clear to see.. The Scarlet’s job isn’t finished though until the play has been killed. Evans connects with Kieran Hardy and Dan Lewis on the inside. The trio close the net winning a scrum 5m out.
From this 5m scrum, the Scarlets enter a series of pick and go’s eventually crashing over and securing their first try in under 5 minutes.
However, while the pick and go game is interesting, we will jump to the Scarlets’ second try. It all starts from a 6+1 Lineout, 10m from the Lions line. The “plus one” tag denotes a forward is standing in at Scrum Half. Dan Lewis acts as the “plus one”, with the flanker stood behind the middle pod. The Scarlets use a 1-3-2 structure for their pods, wanting to avoid driving from the front. The middle pod are marked, so Scarlets avoid going directly up, which appears to be the primary call, instead, they relying on movement to change the picture.
The first stage of this movement is called a “slip”. The slip simply means that one part of the lineout moves forward while another forward(s) “slips” behind to a new position.
Rob Evans is the “slipper” here, with the prop moving to lift Blade Thompson, with Sione Kalamafoni toward the back of the lineout. The space that Rob Evans targets is opened as the middle Scarlets pod jolts forward. The movement of Blade Thompson (Red Scrum Cap) here is crucial. He initially follows the middle pod forward, dragging the opponents forward. This motion trick the Lions lineout and opens space in behind for the Scarlets to lift in.
However, the Scarlets have used a double bluff, aiming to disorientate the Lions. As Rob Evans, joins the back pod, Dan Lewis (the plus one) joins the front pod. The front pod then use a non-jumping pod to set their maul. This speeds up the attack and they get a head start on the Lions.
This drive starts well, but, the Lions react to get a counter drive on. The Lions Front Marker is key to stopping the drive. He remains at the front, throughout all of the Scarlets’ lineout movements. This stops the Scarlets from using a front peel to beat the Lions counter drive. The Lions’ counter drive is strong and forces the Scarlets sideways. The Lions can’t avoid collapsing the maul which gives the Scarlets an opportunity to strike without consequence.
The Scarlets begin their strike with a rather typical setup. Arranged with 10 and 12 flat, with 13 Jonathon davies slightly offset, and blindside winger Steff Evans out the back.
However, they work to transform the picture.
The positioning of the Scarlets’ first receiver was a key part of their general attack against the Lions. Here the Welsh region hide Scott Williams (Spotlighted) with Sam Costello (Blue Link) sliding and revealing him late. This gives additional width to the Scarlets’ attack.
However, their width does not originate with the slide. The Scarlets’ backline trusts Kieran Hardy remaining wide even as the forwards drive towards the touchline. The resulting pass from Kieran Hardy cuts out 5 defenders in one fell swoop. This allows the Scarlets to outflank the Lions defence.
The hard-line from Jonathon Davies, shown in orange, helps contract the Lions defence. preventing an early drift. The hard-line from Davies is instrumental in manipulating the Lions defensive hinge. The hinge is the weak point of any defence. Attacking the hinge primarily forces the defence to go passive, and give ground to the attack. The hard-line from Davies rattles the hinge, giving space for the Scarlets’ second layer (blue links) to attack.
The second layer contains Sam Costello and Steff Evans. The sweep from the second layer places huge pressure on the Lions defence. As the pair run with great pace, against defenders already travelling sideways. The second layer target a small disconnect in the Lions defence. This forces the outside Lions defender to step in, but by now the damage is done.
To expose this space, Costello plays flat to the line. The Scarlets’ Fly Half letting the pass go, only after Odendall has fully committed. This allows Evans to attack the space, and make the remaining Lions defenders commit to him.
With the penultimate defender committed, Stef Evans resorts to a basketball pass to free Jonny McNicholl. The final Lions defender is caught in no mans land. The quick hands earlier in the move make it easy for the Scarlets to finish the chance.
The try is a perfect example of a double-layered attack disrupting a defence. However, while the Scarlets scored two first phase tries against the Lions, they have also innovated during phase play.
Early in the second half the Scarlets get an opportunity to flex their phase play muscle. Starting from a kick caught by Sione Kalamafoni, they set a ruck just outside the 5m channel. The Lions are well set in defence, stopping Kalamafoni early, and getting their defence aligned. They are slightly narrow, a theme throughout the game, and one the Scarlets will target later in the passage.
From this wide ruck, the Scarlets’ use a typical pod comprised of three forwards. The pod forms a flat line so that Kieran Hardy can make a choice from all three runners. This phase is designed to nullify a teams rush defence. By playing to the 15m, the Scarlets open up a blindside, which forces a less aggressive defence from the Lions. This allows the Scarlets to play wider on the next phase, and expose the narrow Lions defence.
The shape Scarlets use to play wide is fairly common. The Fly Half, Sam Costello starts on the inside of the three forwards, highlighted in blue, who form an arrowhead. This shape aims to give Costello access to as many runners as possible. The slight lag between the lead and inside runner of the forward pod opens a tunnel, that Costello uses to spread the ball to Scott Williams.
The position that Scott Williams begins from is interesting, with the inside centre positioned a lot wider than normal. The Scarlets’ centre setting behind the centre of the forward pod, rather than the inside option. This means he drifts wider and deeper as Costello receives the ball to open the tunnel. Costello has also drifted, as a result, Williams has to match his speed, and angle in order to receive the pass.
Looking at the phase in its entirety we can see the power of this slightly lateral running. Focussing on Scott Williams we can see how he is always aiming to interest the 13, Simelane, on the outside of the Lions defence. The Lions have become narrow, which allows Williams to run forward. However, Francke Horn (wearing a red scrum cap) for the Lions does well to get reconnected after the screen runners.
This attack is a great indicator of the Scarlets’ philosophy, always aiming to stretch the opposition. This expansive rugby is what Dwayne Peel will want to encourage, trying to reinforce the Scarlets DNA.
In the following phases, we see similar pictures. The Scarlets have a pod of three forwards, ready to be used by the Scrum Half. Behind this pod, they position a backline ready to add another layer to the attack.
However, the image above shows a worry for the Scarlets coaching team. The Scarlets’ showing a lack of shape, because of a failure to work hard and to set early.
For example, the final member of the red forward pod is barely connected with the rest of his runners. While the second pod is barely recongisable. This lack of urgency means the Scarlets’ lack options on the attack.
The Scarlets’ lack of urgency almost punishes them. Hardy hits Rob Evans, the only viable option within the first forward pod, who pulls the back to Costello who is immediately put under pressure. The young Fly Half does well to fire his pass away to the second forward pod who form just in time.
The carry from Jack Price makes contact about 5 meters behind the gain line. The pressure from Lions and lack of work rate has almost punished the Scarlets. Price does manage to free his hands after the tackle and offload which generates the forward momentum the Scarlets were aiming for. A lucky escape.
This phase of attack from the Scarlets shows two things. Firstly they are trying to play wide to wide rugby. Which will certainly allow their fans to watch a spectacle. However, they will need to increase their urgency to stretch better defences.
Summary
There were some fantastic moments during the game between the Scarlets and Lion, and plenty I haven’t managed to cover here. They will certainly be an exciting team to watch during this season as Dwayne Peel really installs his philosophy of high speed, high width rugby. The main takings from this game should be their multi-layered attack, the ease at which they spread the ball, and their willingness to attack.
I leave you with this, a fantastic coast to coast try, after some fast thinking by Dan Jones.
Link To URC Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQRX5i8tEVs
Link To Thread Of Match Stats: https://twitter.com/analysisguy0502/status/1446136247739629568?s=20
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